[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 29, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73494-73496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30574]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1031; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-27-AD; 
Amendment 39-16871; AD 2011-24-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2B Turboshaft 
Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of 
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an 
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

    Non-conformities on adjustment of some hydromechanical units 
(HMUs) have been reported by a Turbomeca repair centre. The 
technical investigations carried out by Turbomeca are showing that 
only a limited number of HMUs are potentially affected by this non-
conformity to HMU adjustment.

    Twenty nine HMUs have been identified with the non-conformities. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent an uncommanded inflight shutdown, which 
could result in an emergency autorotation landing.

DATES: This AD becomes effective December 14, 2011.
    We must receive comments on this AD by December 29, 2011.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of December 14, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.

For service information identified in this AD, contact Turbomeca S.A., 
40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33-05-59-74-40-00, fax: 33-05-59-74-45-15. 
You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(781) 238-7125.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (phone: (800) 647-5527) is the same as the 
Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Riley, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7758; 
fax: (781) 238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
Airworthiness Directive 2011-0128-E, dated July 6, 2011 (referred to 
after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states:

    Non-conformities on adjustment of some hydromechanical units 
(HMUs) have been reported by a Turbomeca repair centre. The 
technical investigations carried out by Turbomeca are showing that 
only a limited number of HMUs are potentially affected by this non-
conformity to HMU adjustment.

    Twenty nine HMUs have been identified with potential non-
conformities in the proper adjustment of

[[Page 73495]]

the metering valve. The exact location of these 29 HMUs is unknown. 
This AD requires actions to be done before further flight. You may 
obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Turbomeca S.A. has issued Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) No. 
A292 73 2841, Version A, dated July 4, 2011, SB No. 292 73 2143, dated 
July 24, 2007, and SB No. 292 73 2840, Version A, dated June 28, 2011. 
The actions described in this service information are intended to 
correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI. The one-time 
functional test required by the service bulletin is not a normal engine 
run-up test: the one-time functional test involves additional 
requirements including mode switching, that are not part of a normal 
engine run-up after start.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of France, 
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our 
bilateral agreement with France, EASA has notified us of the unsafe 
condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced 
above. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all information 
provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists and is 
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because this 
AD requires either replacing, or functional testing of the HMU before 
further flight. Therefore, we determined that notice and opportunity 
for public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that 
good cause exists for making this amendment effective in fewer than 30 
days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2011-1031; Directorate 
Identifier 2011-NE-27-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact 
with FAA personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of the 
Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, 
including, if provided, the name of the individual who sent the comment 
(or signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor 
union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement 
in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. ``Subtitle VII: Aviation 
Programs,'' describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's 
authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct 
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    (3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2011-24-07 Turbomeca S.A.: Amendment 39-16871; Docket No. FAA-2011-
1031; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-27-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective December 
14, 2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Turbomeca Arriel 2B turboshaft engines 
with a hydromechanical unit (HMU) that has a part number (P/N) and 
serial number (S/N) listed in Table 1 of this AD installed.

                         Table 1--Affected HMUs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 P/Ns                                 S/Ns
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                0292860750                             1008B
                0292860750                             1068B
                0292860750                             1142B
                0292860750                             1143B
                0292860750                             1183B
                0292860750                             1230B
                0292860750                              272B
                0292860750                              275B
                0292860750                              342B
                0292860750                              363B
                0292860750                              422B
                0292860750                              436B
                0292860750                              499B
                0292860750                              524B
                0292860750                              536B
                0292860750                              560B
                0292860750                              598B
                0292860750                              606B
                0292860750                              647B
                0292860750                              652B
                0292860750                              716B
                0292860750                              749B
                0292860750                              763B
                0292860750                              806B

[[Page 73496]]

 
                0292860750                              830B
                0292860750                              861B
                0292860750                              944B
                0292860750                              967B
                0292861020                              632B
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Reason

    (d) This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

    Non-conformities on adjustment of some hydromechanical units 
(HMUs) have been reported by a Turbomeca repair centre. The 
technical investigations carried out by Turbomeca are showing that 
only a limited number of HMUs are potentially affected by this non-
conformity to HMU adjustment.

    Twenty nine HMUs have been identified with potential non-
conformities in the proper adjustment of the metering valve. The 
exact location of these 29 HMUs is unknown. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent an uncommanded inflight shutdown, which could result in 
an emergency autorotation landing.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (f) Before further flight, perform a one-time functional test of 
the engine to confirm proper engine operation. This one-time 
functional test is not a normal engine run-up test. Use the 
instructions in paragraph 2.B.(1)(a) of Turbomeca Alert Mandatory 
Service Bulletin No. A292 73 2841, Version A, dated July 4, 2011, to 
perform the functional test.
    (1) If the engine fails the functional test, replace the HMU 
with an HMU eligible for installation.
    (2) If the engine passes the functional test, do the following:
    (i) Within four months after the effective date of this AD, 
install software modification TU143 on the Engine Electronic Control 
Unit of the engine. Use paragraph 2.B. of Turbomeca Service Bulletin 
No. 292 73 2143, dated July 24, 2007 to do the installation; and
    (ii) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
replace the HMU with an HMU eligible for installation.

Definition

    (g) For the purpose of this AD, an HMU eligible for installation 
is defined as one with a serial number not listed in Table 1 of this 
AD, or, an HMU that passed when tested using Turbomeca Service 
Bulletin No. 292 73 2840.

FAA AD Differences

    (h) None.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve 
AMOCs for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make 
your request.

Related Information

    (j) Refer to MCAI Airworthiness Directive 2011-0128-E, dated 
July 6, 2011, for related information.
    (k) Contact Mark Riley, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification 
Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7758; fax: 
(781) 238-7199, email: [email protected]; for more information 
about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference (IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the 
following service information on the date specified:
    (1) Turbomeca Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin No. A292 73 2841, 
Version A, dated July 4, 2011, approved for IBR December 14, 2011.
    (2) Turbomeca Service Bulletin No. 292 73 2143, dated July 24, 
2007, approved for IBR December 14, 2011.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33-05-59-74-40-00, fax: 
33-05-59-74-45-15.
    (4) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
New England Region, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call (781) 238-7125.
    (5) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at an NARA facility, call (202) 741-6030 or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on November 14, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-30574 Filed 11-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P